HARRY Benson was joined by former Daily Record photographer Derek Blair as he unveiled his new portrait of the Queen at a special ceremony at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

FORMER Daily Record snapper Derek Blair gave his old pal Harry Benson a hard time about his new portrait of the Queen yesterday.

Derek joined legendary Glasgow photographer Harry at the unveiling of the portrait at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

The pair first met in 2008 when Derek took pictures in Harry’s Manhattan apartment for the Record ahead of the US presidential election.

Record snapper Derek Blair poses with the legendary Harry Benson in New York in 2008.

Tragically, Derek was seriously injured in a car accident two years later. The 34-year-old counts his afternoon shooting Harry as one of the highlights of his career.

The admiration was mutual – Harry’s wife Gigi called the Record to ask for copies of Derek’s photos immediately after our piece appeared in the paper.

Derek subjected Harry’s portrait to the same high standards he applied to his own work.

Gordon Jack/scotimage.com

Harry Benson's portrait of the Queen was unveiled today at The National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.

“It’s good,” he joked. “But it’s not quite good enough for the Daily Record.”

Harry, 84, has photographed every American president since Eisenhower.

His most famous works include The Beatles having a pillow fight, and the aftermath of the 1968 assassination of Bobby Kennedy in LA. He photographed the Queen in the Audience Room at Buckingham Palace where she usually holds her weekly meeting with the Prime Minister.

Harry said: “To have been asked by the Scottish National Portrait Gallery to photograph Her Majesty The Queen for an official portrait is truly a highlight of my career.

“I was got to select the colour and dress that the Queen would wear for the portrait. My teachers at Eastwood School in Glasgow would be amazed.”